Early language education & Speech and language therapy

Project description

The “Early language education and Speech and language therapy” project (German acronym: SpraBiL) focuses a critical intersection between the education and healthcare systems, with a specific focus on collaboration between Early childhood education (ECE) centres (Kitas) and speech and language therapy (SLT) services. Its primary goal is to address the language support needs of multilingual children. In partnership with four ECE centres in the Hildesheim and Braunschweig regions, the project aims to improve the identification of language support needs among multilingual children and to develop strategies for promoting cooperation between educational and SLT professionals in everyday practices. The project is supported and accompanied by two language counseling centers: KEA Hildesheim and DialogWerk Braunschweig.

Project background 

Early language education, early identification of language support needs, and speech and language therapy are core responsibilities of both educational institutions and SLT services. The prevention and treatment of language delays and disorders have long been subjects of interdisciplinary discussion. However, structural differences between the education and healthcare systems in Germany create challenges in providing holistic support for children with special language needs. While multilingual preschool children, in particular, often exhibit language difficulties, they only gain access to SLT provision at a later stage, which can significantly hinder their transition to primary school. Therefore, early identification of language development issues is essential, especially in early childhood education. Moreover, there is an urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration between educational, therapeutic, and medical professionals.

Project implementation 

The project aims to establish and strengthen collaborations between educational and SLT therapy professionals, along with other relevant cooperating partners. Core of the project is observation and documentation of multilingual children’s linguistic development trajectories in ECE settings from February 2025 to February 2026. In the first phase, and based on recent relevant research, an instrument for the individual assessment and monitoring of language development will be developed. The collected data will then be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Additionally, expert interviews and focus group discussions will provide valuable insights into the factors that contribute to successful collaboration, ensuring that the findings are both practical and applicable. This interdisciplinary cooperation will generate essential input for the early identification of language disorders, early language education, and speech and language therapy of multilingual children in the field of ECE. Building on these insights, actionable recommendations will be developed, offering perspectives and strategies for improved provision for these children while also inspiring further projects aimed at promoting and assisting multilingual children in the region.

Publications

Hruška, Claudia A.; Rohrmann, Tim & Wirts, Claudia (2024). Kommunikation, Sprachentwicklung, Sprachbildung und Sprachförderung. In Corinna Schmude & Michael Brodowski (Hrsg.), Handbuch Kindheitspädagogik. Grundlagen - Forschungsmethoden - Professionelles Handeln (S. 411–436). Hürth: Wolters Kluwer/Carl Link.